Sports report

The New York Giants continued their roster purge after missing the playoffs, cutting halfback Ahmad Bradshaw, right, and defensive tackle Chris Canty yesterday.

FOOTBALL

Bradshaw latest to go in Giants’ purge

The New York Giants continued their roster purge after missing the playoffs, cutting halfback Ahmad Bradshaw, right, and defensive tackle Chris Canty yesterday.

The release of the two starters came one day after New York let starting weakside linebacker Michael Boley go.

The three players were all veterans who contributed to the Giants’ Super Bowl win over the Patriots a year ago.

They also had big salaries and fought injuries last season. Bradshaw, the Giants’ leading rusher the past three seasons, has been bothered by foot and ankle problems for years. Boley had shoulder and hamstring issues, and Canty had knee problems.

Bradshaw was to earn $4.25?million and become expendable with the play of rookie David Wilson. Canty was to earn $6.5 million next season.

The biggest surprise might have been the release of Bradshaw, who was one of the emotional leaders of the team.

The 26-year-old, who played on two Super Bowl championship teams with the Giants, led the team in rushing each of the past three seasons, gaining 1,015 this season. Bradshaw is sixth on the franchise’s career rushing list with 4,232 yards.

• Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time receiving leader, retired after 14 seasons. Driver caught 743 passes for 10,137 yards, making the team as a seventh-round draft pick out of Alcorn State in 1999.

CYCLING

USADA extends deadline for Armstrong to talk

Lance Armstrong was given more time to think about whether he wants to cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Separately, he learned that he’s about to be sued.

USADA, the agency that investigated the cyclist’s performance-enhancing drug use and banned him for life from sports, has given him an extra two weeks to decide if he’ll speak with investigators under oath. The agency has said cooperating in its cleanup effort is the only path to Armstrong getting his ban reduced. The agency extended its original Wednesday deadline to Feb. 20.

Earlier in the day, SCA Promotions in Dallas said it will sue Armstrong today to recover more than $12 million it paid him in bonuses for winning the Tour de France seven times.

SCA Promotions tried to withhold the bonuses in 2005 amid doping allegations against the cyclist. The company wants its money back, plus fees and interest, now that Armstrong has admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs and has been stripped of those victories.

Armstrong testified under oath in 2005 that he didn’t use steroids, other drugs or blood doping methods to win. A spokesman for SCA said the lawsuit will be filed in Dallas.

BASEBALL

Leake, Reds agree on one-year deal

The Reds agreed to a one-year deal, $3.06 million deal with right-hander Mike Leake.

Leake made $507,500 last season, when he went 8-9 with a 4.58 ERA in 30 starts, a career high. He asked for $3.5?million in arbitration, and the club offered $2,650,000. He will compete with left-hander Aroldis Chapman for a spot in the rotation. He will make an additional $25,000 if he reaches 180 innings pitched.

• The Reds renewed their radio rights agreement with flagship station WLW through 2017.

Marty Brennaman is starting his 40th year of broadcasting Reds games on WLW.

• Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was arrested about 2:30 a.m. yesterday in the Denver suburb of Thornton and charged with drunken driving and careless driving.

Police say Helton’s blood-alcohol content was over the legal limit but they haven’t released the number.

SKIING

Vonn says she’ll be recovered for 2014 Games

Lindsey Vonn plans to compete in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics despite suffering two torn ligaments in her right knee and a broken bone in her lower right leg in a crash Tuesday at the world championships in Schladming, Austria.

The Olympic downhill champion will have surgery next week at home in Vail, Colo. Because of intense media attention, neither she nor the U.S. Ski Team would say when she’s leaving Austria.

— From wire reports

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.